like what streets in Midtown East? I'm at 44th around Grand Central and most everything around here blows. generic Irish bars with $8 pints. best one is probably O'Neill's at 45th and 3rd, decent happy hour. Perfect Pint around the corner on 45th is ok, multi-level with an open air roof bar, always mobbed though. those are my usual picks if I go out after work around here but like I said the prices are ridic. I'm hoping someone has a good answer for you actually.

there's also a relatively new german beer garden upstairs on 3rd Ave but I haven't tried it yet. Hofbrau Bierhaus.